The Oldenbourg Outline of History has gained a new addition: Christoph Schmidt's volume now offers a compact introduction to the history of the Tsarist Empire. The narrative is easy to read and guides the reader through nearly four centuries of Russian history. The research section focuses on four fundamental aspects: geography, ethnology, orthodoxy, and autocracy. The bibliography is thematically organized, providing an ideal guide through the most important sources and the current state of research.